Why are atheists so brave when questioning Christianity, but crap themselves whe

1. 68

   Terrexposted 8 years ago

   Why are atheists so brave when questioning Christianity, but crap themselves when it comes to Islam?
   
   The 'art' of 'Piss Christ' and the 'hate crime' of disrespecting a Koran?
   Are theists just bullies who pick on those who keep quiet but cower and suck up to those who won't put up with it?

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2. 75

   Besarienposted 8 years ago

   I had noticed that atheists here are more critical of Christians but figured that was because they encounter more of us. I do see your point.
   
   I don't know if I'd consider it a hate crime exactly, but think it is wrong and pretty awful to destroy other people's holy books. At least Maplethorpe's art was something that belonged to him in the first place despite how he used it. To me it fits more along the lines of Charlie Hebdo which I think most liberals would agree is not hate speech, though both these examples press the boundaries of bad taste and insult.
   
   I'm sorry you feel bullied by atheists, I don't, but don't particularly care they if they think I'm a religious nut. I probably am one from their point of view. I can live with that. Just turn the other cheek is my best advice.

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      Terrexposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      1st point - I am NOT Christian.
      2nd - I was talking about Andres Serrano's work.
      My observations are based on decades of world travel. The cowardice of atheists is really galling to me, and I am ashamed that 'intellectuals' engage in it.

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      Ericdierkerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Is the second line in the explanation part right. With the question it looks like it should be Atheists rather than theists. It seems a bit of an incongruity.

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      Terrexposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      @Erik: Yes, you are right. Unfortunately, I do not know how to correct the error.
      Can we edit questions?

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      Ericdierkerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think so.

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      Dean Traylorposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Just curious, Terrex. You mentioned you're not Christian. What are you?

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   6. 68

      Terrexposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      @Dean. I love it when ppl ask that. It's the 'attack is the best defence' approach.
      I love not answering! Lol

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      Besarienposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for correcting me. I always thought that was a Mapplethorpe although I know most of his stuff was black and white. Art of the 80s is not my forte. When practicing tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher- the Dalai Lama

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   Link10103posted 8 years ago

   The answer is rather obvious if one can be bothered to think a little outside the box, not immediately play the victim card, and not make blanket assertions.

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      Misfit Chickposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I am often amazed at some of these questions. Can they not see themselves within it? Someone is obviously angry. Hint: specifics help: Who 'cowers' and how - or 'won't put up' and 'with what'?

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      roobposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Uhm I don't get what your saying? Are you afraid the terrorists muslims will kill you? Where as you can criticize Christians and they just say you are going to hell and let their God handle you? Explain please.

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4. 84

   iggy7117posted 8 years ago

   My opinion is that Christians focus on peace and forgiveness while islam will cut your head off or kill you if you do not believe what they do.
   
   Atheists will give in to islam because they have no beliefs, and they fear the violent religion more.

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5. 84

   M. T. Dremerposted 8 years ago

   An atheist is an atheist no matter which god you're talking about (or which name you're calling them by). So how atheists view Islam is no different than how they view Christianity.
   
   There are two key differences, however, in how atheists respond to Christians versus Muslims. The first is that, I'm assuming, you're referring to atheists living in the United States. Christianity is the dominant religion in the U.S. so it's only natural we would be debating that religion first, and the others second. I don't doubt that Middle Eastern atheists debate Muslims more than Christians.
   
   The second difference is that Christians (the extremists) don't see the hypocrisy in their anti-Muslim rhetoric. To an atheist, it looks like they're shouting at a mirror, obvious to their own religion's shared history of violence.
   
   If an atheist joined in with anti-Muslim arguments, it would just empower one side in a budding religious war, which is something we are fundamentally against. Islam may be a fast growing religion, but as of right now, Christianity still holds the power.

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      Ericdierkerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Here is an atheist again lumping atheist together like a religion " So how atheists view Islam is no different than how they view Christianity." Atheists all believe the same way?

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      Terrexposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      @MTDreamer: Are you one oftnose people who cannot see a difference between Islamic extremism and the Christian 'extremists ' you refer to?

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      Link10103posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Sigh...an atheist views Islam the same as Christianity, as in both have beliefs revolving around a God that an atheist doesn't believe exists.
      
      That first sentence sure is a sneaky ninja isn't it..

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      Terrexposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      @Link: I agree with the 'viewing' part. The question was what the do after getting that 'view'; rabid hostility with Christianity, obsequious cowering with Islam.

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      Link10103posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I have to wonder Where exactly in the world that you've traveled to and seen these cowering atheists.

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      Terrexposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Funnily enough, they are everywhere.
      Of course, I would encourage you, if you truly are curious, to go to any muslim country and search them out. It will be interesting, and quite the walk on the wild side for Western atheists.

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      Link10103posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      People being afraid to critique a religion in a place where doing so could immediately land you in jail or get you executed? Never would have guessed...
      
      I was too hopeful it seems.

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      Terrexposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      ...and not imaginative enough either.
      There are ways,my friend, if one is truly interested.Of course, the armchair atheist sticks with the easy targets.
      On the other hand,the lack of Western atheists questioning Islam... hmmm lol

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   9. 59

      Link10103posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Plenty of atheists question and deride Islam. If the number doesn't meet your expectations, especially in an area where Islam is the vast minority, I imagine there probably isn't much more to talk about with you.

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   10. 69

       lawrence01posted 8 years agoin reply to this

       Terrex
       I've lived in Muslim countries and I never met an atheist there! Even the most secular folks there were amazed God hasn't judged the West for not accepting him. I did see Muslims take two steps back when Westerners said they were Atheists!

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   11. 84

       M. T. Dremerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       Eric - All atheists don't believe in god.
       
       Terrex - The difference between Islamic extremism and Christian extremism is that Christians should know better by now. Christian's who have the benefit of hindsight and freedom of speech.

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   12. 68

       Terrexposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       It's an atheist's impression of 'plenty' I think. My question was a comparative, and if someone can convince themselves there is no difference, they do need to speak to ppl with different opinions, else they risk becoming as insular as some theists.

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6. 69

   lawrence01posted 8 years ago

   I wouldn't say they are! Titen Sxull who's an atheist wrote a good hub basically attacking fundamentalist Islam and speaking a lot of sense!
   The truth is a lot of Atheists are from Christian countries because we tend to separate faith and politics where with Islam you can't separate the two, the result is you can have a nominal Muslim who's happy to be known as a Muslim but is also an atheist, they accept Mohammed lived and taught good stuff but don't believe in God and don't really see a problem with the two beliefs!
   Most of the Atheists I've come across here have never been exposed to Islam so I wouldn't expect them to write about it.
   By the way I am a Christian who's spent time in the Islamic world.
   Lawrence

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      Terrexposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      You wouldn't??? You quote one guy you say attacked 'fundamentalist islam', but why not islam itself?Isn't religion itself what atheists oppose? Why did iten Sxull chixken out and limit himself to islamic terrorism?
      Is he as timid with Christianity?

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      Link10103posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      An average atheist should have no reason to oppose religion itself, but the negative impact it can have. Terrorism for example...
      
      Anyone who isn't an oppressive idiot wouldn't attack religion as a whole when its clear it has its positive uses.

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      lawrence01posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Not as far as I could see! I've seen quite a few criticise 'The Abrahamic faiths' without singling one out. But most don't know what Islam teaches so they don't go there!

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      Terrexposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Perhaps more 'seeing' is necessary then.
      Sxull's and other atheists' cowardly philosophy reeks of hypocrisy, and vice versa.
      If we blind ourselves to that, we have failed our own intelligence.

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7. 49

   bradmasterOCcalposted 8 years ago

   Once again, I will have to say that Labels are put downs, and they are meant in most cases to be used as a hammer by the speaker to nail down their opinion as the only way to look at something.
   
   Making categorical statements about people just doesn't apply to the uniqueness of human beings.
   
   These questions serve no useful purpose that I can see. Each side has their own values, and opinions. Neither side seems to have any desire on changing their views, and this leads to a lot of words and opinions, with little if any agreement.
   
   Thanks for playing.

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8. 0

   David Bucknerposted 8 years ago

   They understand Christianity more than Islam. People don't want to look stupid when critiquing others.

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      Colorado Carpetposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      True. Outside of the USA people are more critical of islam. Christianity is more prominent in the USA and therefore gets picked apart more often. Hopefully all religions will fizzle out soon.

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9. 0

   LoliHeyposted 8 years ago

   I have a theory.  There is power in the name of Jesus.  I think that deep down inside some atheists refuse to admit that God is real.  Something about Christianity just bothers them.  That is because He is real, and the spirit of Satan (and his demons) are spreading hate around the earth to discredit God.  People get mad when approached about Jesus.  That is Satan working inside of them. 
   
   Nowadays people are afraid to criticize Islam openly because the liberal left is branding anyone who does a bigot.  Some are even trying to prosecute those who speak out against it.  Obama (Muslim sympathizer) has played apart in this. 
   
   In my opinion, Satan probably loves it when people worship any god other than the true one.  So he leaves them alone.

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10. 83

    tamarawilhiteposted 8 years ago

    Bill Maher brought this up - it is safe to criticize Christians, whereas criticizing Muslims can get you killed, from Charlie Hebdo to the attempted attack on Pamela Gellar's "Everybody Draw Mohammed" contest in Texas in 2015.

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    B M Gunnposted 8 years ago

    I for one, think ALL religion is equally senseless. Not all atheists are politically correct....only the annoying ones

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       lawrence01posted 8 years agoin reply to this

       I like that (about being pc that is!)

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    mark kengaposted 8 years ago

    Most Modern Christians have taken a laid back approach when it comes to reading and memorising the scriptures by heart hence they can't fully justify questions about the bible clearly.Muslims on the other are trained from younger ages to understand the Qur'an in and out.

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    peter565posted 8 years ago

    Because when we talk about Christianity, we are talking about the problem of our own society, Islam is talking about another part of the world, we don't really know much about.

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       Terrexposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       Islam has been a distinct art of the American (and European) psyche because of the unending series of muslim terrorist attacks. It is very definitely a problem of our society.

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    Shadrack2posted 8 years ago

    Because its only the tree with the best fruits which is pelted with stone.

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15. 68

    nnmsposted 8 years ago

    Christianity is more inclusive and tolerant than Islam. Due to tireless works of Christian missionaries around the world, more people are aware of the teachings and doctrines of Christians than Islam. Hence, atheists more often criticise Christianity than Islam.

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       Terrexposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       Partially true, I suppose. But the situation is even more pronounced in muslim countries, so the theory doesn't quite hold.

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